The divisions of college football covered here kick off their 2025 season on August 23rd. Here’s my preaseason rankings for D3. NAIA is HERE and D2 is HERE.
*** 1. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS ### 2. NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CARDINALS (defending national champions) ### 3. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS ### 4. SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES ###
5. SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS ### 6. HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY COWBOYS ### 7. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS ### 8. SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS ### Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS fought it out with the defending champs – the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS. Grand View U. led 7-0 to end the 1st Quarter and 21-7 come Halftime. The Vikings shut out Keiser the rest of the way, leading 28-7 in the 3rd Quarter before winning the game 35-7. * THE VIKINGS ARE 2024 NAIA CHAMPIONS * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – This game pitted the defending national champs – the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS – against the visiting BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 6-0 Ravens lead in the 1st Quarter became a 14-14 tie by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Benedictine College up 28-14 but the Seahawks exploded in the 4th, coming from behind for a 42-38 triumph. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to play the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Ravens were surprisingly dominant over the favored Wildcats, keeping them off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter. BC was up 17-0 by Halftime and won the game by a final tally of 20-9. 
ROUND TWO: GAME ONE – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS visited the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS. A 6-0 1st Quarter edge for the Red Raiders became a 23-14 advantage by Halftime. After the break, the Orediggers rallied but came up just short as Northwestern College held on for a 32-29 win. 
ROUND TWO: GAME TWO – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS took it on the road against the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Rams led 14-7 and then 24-14 in the 1st and 2nd Quarters. From there the Ravens came alive and went on top 28-24 in the 3rd before finalizing a 42-33 triumph in the 4th Quarter. 
NEPTUNE BOWL – The two Independent teams clashing in this Bowl Game were the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) and the ATLANTIS UNIVERSITY ATLANTEANS. The 1st Quarter ended with the Builders up just 7-0 but they floored it from there. By Halftime the Apprentice School led 24-0 on their way to a 59-6 blowout victory. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS welcomed the UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. This tale of 2 Halves saw the Moundbuilders holding a midpoint lead of 24-10. From there the Cougars rallied but fell short as Southwestern College went on to win the game 31-24. 
The TRINITY (TX) TIGERS will host the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS. 
The WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY PIRATES will host the POMONA-PITZER COLLEGE SAGEHENS. 
NUMBER EIGHT FALLS – Staying in the NAIA for right now, the number 15 BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took it on the road against the 8th ranked MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. MNU were on top 7-3 in the 1st Quarter, but the Wildcats went up 10-7 by the Half. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by Baker U. winning out 20-14. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – For the THIRD week in a row the number one team in NCAA Division Two was upset. The UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES visited the (1) PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS. The Mules kicked the Gorillas in the teeth, leading them 24-10 at Halftime before consummating the Upset 37-13. 
“THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIVE!” – Staying in D2 for a moment, the SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM took it on the road against the country’s 5th ranked OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Tigers led 7-3, 10-6 and 17-9 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters, respectively. In the 4th, the Crimson Storm toppled OBU 18-17.
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – In the NAIA the 12th ranked MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 10-7 Ravens lead in the 1st became a 24-24 tie by the Half. In the 3rd the Pioneers went up 27-24 and an explosive 4th Quarter saw MNU edge BC 48-47. 
TEARING DOWN NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division Two, the 4th ranked FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS paid a visit to the nation’s number 1 GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS. The Bulldogs were all over Grand Valley State, leading them 13-0 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Ferris State on top of the Lakers 27-7 and the 4th with a 34-7 Bulldogs victory. 
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA, the number 8 MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS took it on the road against the country’s 4th ranked DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. The Mustangs were up 21-7 in the 1st Quarter and 28-7 at the Half. From there, the Defenders outscored Morningside 14-3, but with so deep a deficit the Mustangs still won 31-21. 
